War of words between BPVA and Solarcentury escalates

A war of words has escalated today (January 30) as Solarcentury and PV trade association the BPVA trade blows over FITs.

One of the UK's biggest PV businesses, Solarcentury, has been at loggerheads with the British Photovoltaic Association (BPVA) over its accusations it tried to intervene in a court fight over the legality of cuts to Feed-In Tariffs (FITs).

The BPVA's application was refused and Solarcentury, along with fellow claimants Friends of the Earth and HomeSun, then saw the Government's appeal into their hard won right for a judicial review also turned down.

After the case Solarcentury claimed the association 'made no genuine effort' to discuss the move with it and, as such, felt unable to remain a member.

A spokeswoman for the BPVA responded to saying the intervention was not the main reason and it acted in the interest of the majority of its members.

She said: "The majority of our members feel tariff levels should be reduced, and they wish there to be clarity and stability of the feed in tariff as soon as possible.

"The longer the higher tariff levels persist, the more rapidly the budget will be depleted.

"This would not be in the long term interests of the solar industry or the other technologies supported by the feed in tariff."

She went on to say that prior to the legal intervention the BPVA consulted with the Micropower Council and the Renewable Energy Association.

She added: "The statement published by Solarcentury saying we acted alone and the only trade association supporting DECC was incorrect and not accurate."